Borno Governor Warns of Resurgent Boko Haram Threat, Calls for Tech-Driven Military Reinforcement

 

Borno at Crossroads: Zulum Flags Risk of Insurgency Resurgence After Military Base Attacks

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has issued a stark warning that the state risks sliding back into widespread violence following a surge in Boko Haram attacks targeting military installations and civilians. The governor’s remarks came during a high-stakes security meeting on Tuesday attended by military commanders, traditional leaders, and stakeholders in Maiduguri.

Zulum highlighted the overrunning of military formations in Wajirko, Sabon Gari (Damboa LGA), Wulgo (Gamboru Ngala), and Izge (Gwoza LGA) as a “significant setback” in Nigeria’s decade-long insurgency fight. These attacks, occurring almost daily, have resulted in civilian and security personnel casualties, undermining years of fragile progress.

Key Statements from the Security Summit

1. Zulum’s Appeal for Tech-Enhanced Warfare
While praising President Bola Tinubu’s federal support, Zulum urged intensified efforts to equip troops with advanced technology tailored for the Sahelian terrain. Borno’s strategic borders with Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, he argued, demand cutting-edge surveillance and combat tools to counter insurgent mobility.

“My administration has supported security agencies tirelessly, leading to relative peace in recent years. But these renewed attacks signal we’re losing ground. We need tech-driven solutions now.”

2. Shehu of Borno’s Dire Assessment
The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al Amin El-Kanemi, revealed that three LGAs—Abadam, Marte, and Guzamala—remain under militant control, rendering them “no-go zones.” He accused infiltrators posing as Islamic scholars or traders of destabilizing communities, forcing locals into exile.

“Our people flee to neighboring countries to survive. Even towns bordering Cameroon are ghost settlements.”

Infrastructure Crisis Fuels Instability
The Shehu criticized the absence of basic amenities in LGAs established since 1976, linking poor infrastructure to vulnerability. He appealed for urgent reconstruction of critical federal roads:

• Biu-Damboa-Maiduguri

• Maiduguri-Dikwa-Ngala

• Maiduguri-Monguno-Kukawa

• Biu-Damaturu

These routes, vital for military logistics and economic revival, are in “deplorable” condition, exacerbating security and humanitarian challenges.